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USDA APHIS Veterinary Services- Strategy & Policy

U.S. Import procedure for pet birds originating from countries

affected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

2020

This document refers to imports of pet birds originating from countries that APHIS considers affected 

with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). A current list of affected countries can be found at the 

following link: 

Animal Health Status of Regions

 APHIS defines ‘pet birds’ as those birds that are imported for the personal pleasure of their individual 

owners and are not intended for resale. Importers of pet birds must be able to demonstrate that they 

have owned the bird(s) prior to when they apply for an import permit, and are capable of providing the 

required certification statement of ownership. We will accept the following documents as proof of 

ownership: veterinary health records (listing importer as the owner), bill of sale from the purchase of the 

bird from company XXX; or a CITES or other government issued documents listing the bird and the 

ownership of the bird. Ownership proof may be requested on arrival at the first U.S. port of entry. 

Note: Pet birds that originate from an HPAI-free country, but which may be transiting through an HPAIaffected country en route to the United States, are not required to undergo pre-export isolation. Such 

transits will require special handling/monitoring, and are treated on a case-by-case basis. Importers 

should contact the National Import and Export Services (NIES) for further details. Additional user fees 

will be incurred for transit monitoring by APHIS staff in HPAI-affected countries.

I: Pre-export activities

a. The importer must apply for an Import permit thru the National Import and Export Services 

only. Applications must be received by NIES at least 10 days in advance of any intended 

importation under this accommodation. NIES contact information: 301-851-3300 (menu

option 2); or by email at: VS.Live.Animals.Import.Permits@aphis.usda.gov

b. The application (VS form 17-129) and instructions can be accessed via the following link:

VS Forms

c. The user fee must be submitted along with the application. Access the following web link 

for current rates VS User Fees

d. Permits will be delivered per the instructions of the importer- via email attachment or

courier (at the importer’s expense). We urge the importer to read the permit upon receipt 

for: accuracy and entry instructions.

e. Reservations for quarantine space, and all costs associated with veterinary inspection, 
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USDA APHIS Veterinary Services- Strategy & Policy

testing and quarantine must be paid before the start of the quarantine period. The importer 

should commence these arrangements upon receipt of the import permit.

f. The importer should communicate any diet issues unique to the bird to the staff at the 

quarantine center at reservation confirmation.

g. At least 72 hours before the bird is due to arrive in the United States, the importer must 

contact the veterinary port office (at the phone number listed on the import permit) to 

confirm flight arrangements.

h. The bird must meet all other applicable U.S. import requirements, including those of the

U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. That agency can be reached at: (703) 358-2104.

2. The bird must undergo a 21 day pre-export isolation in the exporting country, supervised by the 

competent authority or their designee. The pre-export isolation:

a. must be performed immediately prior to export to the U.S.

b. must be supervised by an official government veterinarian, or by a veterinarian in

the exporting country who issues the export health certificate and who has been

authorized by the government to supervise the quarantine. APHIS recommends the

bird be tested for avian influenza and avian paramyxovirus during this time period, 

but does not require pre-import testing.

3. The health certificate issued for the pet bird must:

a. be issued by a veterinarian and endorsed by an official government veterinarian of 

the exporting country of origin;

b. be dated within 30 days of the time the bird is shipped to the United States;

c. list the seal numbers that were applied to the carrier by the official veterinarian

(seal numbers can be placed anywhere on the health certificate, but must match

the seals on the carrier)

d. contain the following statements:

i.the bird was inspected within 24 hours of consignment for export and

was without clinical signs of any communicable disease;

ii. the bird was not vaccinated against any H5 or H7 subtype of avian influenza;

iii. the issuer should use only the applicable choice below on the health certificate:

• the bird has been vaccinated against Newcastle disease (avian 

paramyxovirus) at least 21 days prior to export, using vaccines that

do not contain any velogenic strains of Newcastle disease virus

OR
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USDA APHIS Veterinary Services- Strategy & Policy

• the bird has not been vaccinated against Newcastle disease; (strike out 

which one does not apply)

the bird has not been exposed to other birds during the pre-export isolation

until the time of consignment for export; the bird was isolated for a minimum of

21 days immediately prior to export; the isolation was supervised by an official

government veterinarian, or by a veterinarian in the exporting country who issued 

the export health certificate and who has been authorized by the government to

supervise the isolation period. [Note: this statement is not required if the pet bird

originates from a HPAI-free country but transits an HPAI- affected country.]

i. the bird was placed in new or appropriately sanitized packing materials at the 

premise from which the export process began.

ii. the bird was moved directly from the pre-export isolation location to the port of 

embarkation to the United States 

II: Port of Entry activities

1. The bird:

a. must travel with original documents - import permit, health certificate, and in a sealed 

carrier

b. must undergo APHIS veterinary inspection at the port of entry.

c. must be imported only through the ports of New York, NY., Miami ,FL or Los Angeles, 

CA. Birds using the port of Los Angeles is allowed to arrive at LAX, on its way to either 

JFK, New York or to Miami, Florida.

d. will move directly after arrival through a bonded broker, or by USDA personnel, to a 

USDA-operated quarantine facility for a 30-day import quarantine.

2. Importer or agent:

a. Will meet with the Port veterinarian and complete import documentation. Forms (VS 

17-8, VS 17-29) are supplied by the port veterinarian and are completed during the 

veterinary inspection.

b. Will pay User fees if not already done so.

III. Import quarantine

1. Payment for the 30 day USDA quarantine must be submitted to the federal quarantine center 

prior to the bird entering quarantine. Contact information for USDA quarantine facilities is 

located below:
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USDA APHIS Veterinary Services- Strategy & Policy

These are the only ports of entry available for importing non-U.S. origin pet birds.

New York Animal Import Center (NYAIC)

USDA, APHIS VS 

230-59 Rockaway Blvd 

Suite 100, Room 101 

Jamaica, NY 11413 

Telephone – (718) 553-3570 

Fax – (718) 553-3572 

Port of Entry: JFK International Airport

Miami Animal Import Center (MAIC) 

USDA-APHIS-VS 

6300 NW 36 Street 

Miami, FL 33122 

Telephone – (305) 876-2200 

Fax – (305) 876 – 2201 

Port of Entry: Miami International Airport

2. Birds must test negative for avian influenza and Newcastle disease while in quarantine or they 

will be refused entry and disposed of in accordance with APHIS policies.

3. At the conclusion of the 30 day quarantine, the importer must remove the bird from the 

quarantine. Non-immediate removal of the bird by the importer will result in additional costs.